I believe that Pandas like mine (2007/57 model) are known to have steering issues - mine sometimes loses power steering at start up and a message tells me that the power steering has failed and this has now happened 4 times over the last 3 months. If I turn the engine off and then restart, the fault appears to clear itself and the message ceases. I bought this car from a Fiat dealer, who supplied a 12 month third party warranty with it, so a few days ago I contacted them and they took my car away to investigate the problem. Today they called me to say that the battery has "a defective cell" and this might be causing the problem. As the battery is not covered by the warranty, I have told them that I will have the car back and fit a new battery myself (EuroCarParts have a sale on at present!). I'm not particularly confident that the problem is down to the battery (it always starts OK), and that the dealer may be guessing? Has anyone experienced a poor battery causing a steering problem?

Related to the above, when I swap the old battery for a new one, am I going to have to enter any codes for the stereo or immobiliser, etc?

I've experienced similar problems to what you describe, and a few people on here also suggested it may be the battery. That got me thinking as to when the problem was occuring and it was after the car had sat at the airport for a week and then when I was doing a lot of short trips with many starts in the same day. Since the car has had a good run and I've used it everyday, it's been OK since. Not sure if it will ever happen again, but I know these systems do draw a lot of current so a weak battery may cause the error flag to be set and the safety relay to drop out...
Mike

Quacker said:

Related to the above, when I swap the old battery for a new one, am I going to have to enter any codes for the stereo or immobiliser, etc?

Click to expand...

If it's just the key-based, standard FIAT immobilizer, you should be fine; and if you've got the factory-fitted head unit, well, it depends...! Sometimes, it seems, if you're quick enough changing the battery over (and the wind is blowing in the right direction), all is well. Other times, please make sure you have the code to hand...!

If it didn't come with the car, you can get the code for the factory-fitted HU here... -- and all it costs is a small donation to the Forum...!

As to the steering, certainly on the Punto, a fully-charged battery can make all the difference. Don't just rely on the alternator charging it up, though: try trickle-charging it overnight; and see if that helps....

The battery will be exactly the issue unfortunately, or fortunately depending upon how you look at it.

You've a top spec Eleganza Dualogic (same as us, good choice) which is a power hungry car with the auto gearbox etc.

Regarding radio, it will not need the code if its the original double din unit the car came out of the factory with

Thanks for the useful replies. I'm relieved that you seem to agree that low battery voltage when starting up may be to blame after all. I don't ever do long journeys, so maybe that's the root cause? So, even though my car seems to start well, I'll fit a new battery and see how it goes.
I'm planning to buy a Bosch S4 battery from Euro Car Parts (for 56GBP) - does this sound like a good idea?

Bosch are the only battery's I use

Update...

Changing the battery, as discussed, has apparently cured the problem I was having with the power streering on my Eleganza. It has been quite a few weeks now, with no issues - hopefully this will continue even though winter is upon us.

Because of my concerns regarding having to recode the stereo, while swapping the batteries over I maintained the supply via jump leads to another car (a small nuisance, I admit, but I was a bit worried!).

Cheers and many thanks for your help

Thanks for the update

Quacker said:

...


Because of my concerns regarding having to recode the stereo, while swapping the batteries over I maintained the supply via jump leads to another car (a small nuisance, I admit, but I was a bit worried!).

Click to expand...

I would suggest the same thing, but I only saw the thread today !

Does it need a radio code, can't remember ever putting a code in a panda?

T14086 said:

Does it need a radio code, can't remember ever putting a code in a panda?

Click to expand...

Since changing the battery I've found a leaflet which has a 4-digit code for the radio, plus instructions on how to use it. But I'm not sure if I would have needed to use it if the battery was only disconnected for a couple of minutes? But I am relieved to have found it!

Yes know what you mean, personally never had to put in code even after major work with battery disconnected for days, maybe depends of type of stereo fitted?

Good to see you still having a peek
Quacker

Charlie

I had a car that after being parked for a couple of weeks would turn over perhaps a little slowly but nothing unusual. It would never start. With jump leads it fired instantly and was fine next time I needed it.

The problem was one battery cell going flat long before the others. The starter motor depressed the system voltage so the engine ECU would not operate so engine would not run.

New battery = problem solved.

The Panda (like many cars today) has electric power steering which puts a heavy demand on the battery. The first place to look when the car steering "packs up" is the battery.

That said, My wife's Panda has a new battery yet the steering still acts up when cold. However she also gets the alternator charge light showing. After about 1/2 mile the light goes out and the steering works fine. It's another job I have to investigate.

I'd suspect the brushes, but not sure if they can be changed seperately.

gr J

This fault is OLD.

They had a thread later regarding a rough take.off with its dualogic drivetrain.

Fill and bleed sorted it.

I picked up a spare alternator - going to do it's bearings and brushes, so it can be quickly swapped over. But what an awkward thing to get at - Sheesh !!!

The advantages of a small car

gr J

DaveMcT said:

I picked up a spare alternator - going to do it's bearings and brushes, so it can be quickly swapped over. But what an awkward thing to get at - Sheesh !!!

Click to expand...

Have you got a reliable supplier for alternator rebuild bits? The one I used in the past has disappeared and I've got 2 or 3 spares which could do with servicing before use.
I never bothered with part numbers before coz the old guy running the place always knew what bits I would need before I asked. Unfortunately he never provided detailed invoices either...
Last place I phoned seemed completely baffled by the concept of supplying parts without a part number for each individual component, and didn't seem to have a way of looking them up.

irc said:

Have you got a reliable supplier for alternator rebuild bits? The one I used in the past has disappeared and I've got 2 or 3 spares which could do with servicing before use.
I never bothered with part numbers before coz the old guy running the place always knew what bits I would need before I asked. Unfortunately he never provided detailed invoices either...
Last place I phoned seemed completely baffled by the concept of supplying parts without a part number for each individual component, and didn't seem to have a way of looking them up.

Click to expand...

Why am I not surprised.

What good job I didnt, "whip the old one off the car and pop into town for a few bits". There is Google and stuff on eBay so will have to see what looks compatible.